Submitting portfolios for online master's in multimedia design programs can help full-time artists broaden their palette of skills using diverse mediums like text, sound, images, and video for impactful messages. From Madison Avenue to Hollywood, graduate-level multimedia design training gives imaginative minds the advanced techniques and tools to animate their career prospects. In 2014, Artists Report Back showed that roughly 16,000 MAs and MFAs graduate annually in comparison to the 91,000 undergrad art majors. Joining this elite master's-trained group can aid promotions in the United States' $698 billion art sector. According to the Motion Picture Association of America, today's creative industry produces 4.7 million jobs and 4.32 percent of our nation's goods/services. As of April 2017, there were 673,656 organizations countrywide focused on the production and distribution of artistic works! Affordable online multimedia design master's provide excellent economic value while finding your style POV.
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These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master's or PhD programs.
Methodology
The Grad School Hub staff accessed the Institute for Education Sciences' NCES College Navigator database to frame our colorful list of cheap multimedia design master's programs. We checked the box for distance education when searching for advanced degrees related to digital, web, and multimedia design/management. Since it's historically a face-to-face major, our initial pool included just seven colleges forging new MFA and specialized master's online. Our team paints accreditation as the foremost selection factor, so we checked each for regional accreditation accepted by the U.S. Department of Education. Preference was also given for programmatic approval from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Lastly, we ordered the universities according to their in-state graduate tuition averages for the most recent 2016-17 year. We've outlined the five least expensive online multimedia design master's marrying technology and art below.
Ranking Low-Cost Multimedia Design Master's Online
Which Careers Benefit From Online Multimedia Design Master's Degrees?
Completing a multimedia design master's online would qualify artists for a wide swath of careers blending traditional and digital media into creations that entertain or educate. The "many" in multimedia alludes to the vast number of disciplines to choose from, including photography, user interface design, fashion merchandising, architectural design, and ceramics. In 2016, 59 percent of multimedia designers were self-employed, which isn't surprising since telecommuting workers represent over two-fifths of the population according to the New York Times. Adding a terminal MFA to one's résumé could even open online or on-campus professorships for collegiate teaching at the more than 1,210 art schools nationwide. Master's degrees might also be supplemented with industry credentials, such as the Toon Boom Storyboard Pro Certification for animators. Scroll through some of the following sample job descriptions for multimedia design online master's graduates:
Video Game Designer- Labeled the 33rd best job by CNN Money, this electronic arts career lets gamers oversee the entire life cycle from conception to production of best-selling video games like Super Mario and Minecraft. Video game designers with a multimedia design master's online would experiment with interface ideas, develop plots, write fiction storylines, shape characters, map difficulty levels, set scoring systems, and debug glitches.
Cartoon Animator- Rendering IMDB‘s most popular animated films like The Incredibles and The Lion King can take over three years and $50 million. Finishing a cheap multimedia design master's could train cartoon animators to design 2D models, sketch storyboards, illustrate narratives, draw characters, establish sequence paces, add CGI effects, overlap dialogues/soundtracks, meet production budgets, and do frame-by-frame editing.
Desktop Publisher- Online master's in multimedia design graduates could be suited to join the 14,800 desktop publishers listed on CareerOneStop who create online newspapers, blogs, brochures, and eBooks. Job responsibilities include creating cohesive designs, importing graphics, embedding videos, adjusting text fit, checking color schemes, correcting content errors, converting media files for print, and presenting final pages to clients.
Graphic Designer- Pictures really are worth 1,000 words because 90 percent of the brain's synthesized information is visual according to HubSpot. Graphic designers might need an online multimedia design master's to better present innovative concepts, ascertain audience response, create digital illustration, sketch layouts, select details like typeface, use Adobe software, incorporate client edits, collaborate with advertisers, and review results critically.
Web Developer- Getting a master's in multimedia design online could prepare for the U.S. News & World Report's #8 best technology job building useful, eye-catching World Wide Web pages that generate traffic. Web developers design page layouts, create efficient HTML code, improve user navigation, integrate e-commerce applications, test browser views, remedy bugs, register domain names, edit online videos, and abide copyright laws.
Applications Designer-Business 2 Community reported that 268 million app downloads generated $77 billion in 2017, so an online master's in multimedia design would come handy here. Applications designers analyze mobile market needs, create engaging interfaces, write clean code, set development timelines, optimize graphics, conduct UI tests, troubleshoot bugs, generate app instructions, coordinate updates, and stay abreast of new technologies.
Visual Merchandising Manager- Falling under the marketing category as Forbes‘ #1 best freelance career, visual merchandising strives to turn consumer traffic into profitable sales with enticing product displays. Managers with an online multimedia design master's would define branding strategies, maximize floor plans, create promotional signs, choose lighting, change seasonal themes, plan product launches, supervise production staff, and negotiate budgets.
What is the Salary ROI on a Master's in Multimedia Design Online?
Money shouldn't be the sole motivation for art school, but Fortune warns that master's in multimedia design online programs have the eighth lowest returns and an average satisfaction rate of 60 percent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that multimedia artists have a mean annual wage of $72,200, or $34.71 per hour. Game designers reap median pay of $81,600. Web developers click toward a mean wage of $72,150. Fine artists using multiple media sculpt median income of $57,410. Graphic designers bring home less at $52,290 on average; however, art directors with 5+ years of experience earn $89,820. On Salary.com, the median profit listed for creative services managers is $85,525. Other averages for multimedia design master's online jobs include $51,619 for cartoonists, $67,437 for set designers, $62,490 for videographers, $82,190 for film editors, and $67,790 for industrial designers. Multimedia marketing gigs pay visual merchandising managers $81,354 and social media directors $96,642 annually.
How is the Job Outlook for Multimedia Design Master's Online Graduates?
World Creative predicts that 29.5 million artistic jobs will fuel the global economy with $2.25 trillion, which is approximately 3 percent of the GDP worldwide. Cheap multimedia design master's training could pay off because fast-as-average job growth of 8 percent is expected by the U.S. Department of Labor. By 2026, studios will hire 6,200 multimedia artists for a hiring jump from 73,700 to 79,900. Today's digital age will spark a 15 percent increase in web design and development positions. Graphic designers can expect slower 10-year growth of 4 percent yet nearly 278,000 total jobs. Master's-level arts management hiring will rise by 5 percent from 2016 on. Industry statistics indicate a 7 percent uptick in openings for illustrators too. The AIGA ranked San Francisco, New York City, Bridgeport, Framingham, and Los Angeles as the most designer-friendly cities. An online master's in multimedia design gives the flexibility to relocate while plotting the next step for a multidimensional innovation career.
Additional Sources:
Artists Report BackMotion Picture Association of AmericaCollege NavigatorU.S. Department of Education
